Recent research led by Prof. Tomás Ryan at Trinity College Dublin sheds light on a remarkable discovery: the brain can form lasting memories of cold experiences that significantly influence metabolic responses.
This groundbreaking study demonstrates that mice trained to associate visual cues with specific cold environments can increase their metabolism based on these cues—even when they are in a warm room.
The research identifies specific memory-encoding neurons, or ‘engrams,’ located in the hippocampus that activate thermogenesis through the stimulation of brown fat tissue.
This finding has profound implications for treating various disorders, including obesity and cancer, where metabolism and thermoregulation are crucial factors.
Mice in the study successfully learned to associate cold temperatures with visual cues unique to those experiences, a concept reminiscent of Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning established in the late 19th century.
Ryan’s lab teamed up with Prof. Lydia Lynch to explore how the body’s metabolic response changes due to these cold memories, rather than relying solely on behavioral changes to measure memory.
After conditioning, the mice’s metabolism increased when they saw the visual cues, suggesting that their brain was preparing them for the expected cold environment.
Delving deeper into the biological mechanisms, the researchers utilized advanced techniques like activity-dependent gene labeling to pinpoint engram cells within the hippocampus related to cold memory.
In a significant finding, stimulating these cold engram cells prompted a metabolic increase in the mice, driving them to generate heat.
Conversely, inhibiting these specific cells hindered the mice from recalling their cold memories in response to the conditioned visual cues.
Lead author Dr. Andrea Muñoz Zamora articulated the importance of these findings, noting that the mice’s ability to store memories of cold experiences helps them anticipate future cold scenarios by boosting their metabolism.
Prof. Lynch further contributed to the analysis by emphasizing that the learned control over body temperature closely relates to the activity of brown adipose tissue—commonly known as brown fat—regulated by signals from the brain.
This discovery not only expands our understanding of how memories manipulate physiological responses but also hints at potential treatments for various clinical issues linked to metabolism and thermoregulation.
Dr. Aaron Douglas, a joint lead author of the study, highlighted the therapeutic possibilities, noting that manipulating cold memories might lead to innovative approaches for managing conditions like obesity and cancer.
The implications of this research reach beyond metabolic disorders; they offer insights into how bodily experiences shape broader cognitive functions, including our emotions and decision-making processes.
Understanding how the brain encodes and retrieves thermal memories could help unravel deeper connections between sensory experiences and emotional states.
As Prof. Ryan mentioned, the findings emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in neuroscience, combining memory engram research with studies on metabolism to yield significant discoveries.
The capacity for the brain to adapt and learn from environmental factors opens new avenues for understanding behavior and mental processes, suggesting that complex human emotions and cognitive functions have roots in more basic bodily representations.
In summary, this influential study lays the groundwork for future research into the intersection of memory, metabolism, and overall behavioral outcomes.
New applications for treating metabolic disorders could arise from this nuanced understanding of cold memory in the brain, signifying an evolutionary step in both neuroscience and medical therapeutics.
The original study has been detailed in the esteemed journal, Nature, showcasing the intricate relationships between environmental challenges, memory formation, and physiological responses.
By examining how memories of temperature influence metabolic regulation, the scientific community is poised to innovate strategies that could dramatically affect the treatment of thermoregulatory disorders.
This research signals an important advancement in our comprehension of bodily responses and how memories inform our physiological state, promising a new direction in therapeutic strategies.
image source from：https://neurosciencenews.com/memory-metabolism-thermogenesis-28705/
